Lingering Glance (Patreon)

Your eyes narrow, watching him laugh with too much glee. "If we're throwing blame around, then don't let me out of the fun," you say, lifting your chin defiantly. Hadrian's arms shake up and down, his fingers tickling your sides. "You should have locked the door."

Slowly, almost too slowly, his chuckles subside. Hadrian still smiles, close to beaming at this point, and you wonder then how proud he is of himself. "Don't blame the burglar if the lock is ill-fitted?"

You clench your jaw. "That's not what I meant."

Hadrian leans closer, eyes sparkling. "Don't blame the sinner if the sin is so tempting?" 

Your hands flex against his chest. "Hadrian."

"Don't blame the—"

"I get it!" you bark, cheeks heated, and bite your tongue when Hadrian chuckles again. This damned man. "You got your point across."

"That's a first," Hadrian says in a low voice, his eyes on his knuckles as they come to brush by your cheek. You’re glaring, but you stay in place, watching him watching you. "Don't worry, ${Name}. I forgive you."

He pauses, smile turning bold. "Just this once."

(I just loved this dialogue! 😄 Hadrian is starting to grow more confident around a romanced MC, so don't expect an easy victory in all your back and forths.)